Protecting-casing for ammunition.



` l. SCHIERA. 'PRoTEcTlNG cAslNG Foa AMMUNITION.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I4. l9l5.

Patented Dec; 17, 1918.

.Nim-l UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEICE.

JuLIus sCII'IRRA, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNoR, EY DIRECT ANI) .MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, To PEOJECTILE PROTECTOR COMPANY, or WILMINGTON,

DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OE DELAWARE.-

PROTECTING-CASING FOR AMMUNITION.

speication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

Application tiled August 14, 1915. Serial No. 45,548.

vlowing is a specification.

My invention 'relates to improvements 'in protecting 4casings for ammunition especially adapted for use in the transportation land storage of explosive shells, shrapnehetc.

For `various reasons it is essential 'rthat the Vexterior 'of explosive shells, shrapnel, and other forms of projectiles, be protected as much as possible'prior to their use in actual service. One reason for this is 'the necessity for protecting the ritling ring of the projectile against damage, the ring being of a character exceedingly susceptible tosuch action. Another reasonis 'based on possible diiliculties in handling, transportation and storage, where the projectile is subject tocor rosive effects, rust action, etc.

-lVhile itis'readily'possible to provide protective means for this purpose, other correlativo conditions arise'which limit the possibilities of form, material, etc., of such means, thus eliminating to a large extent the use of the ordinary structures employed for storing and transporting articles of commerce. Among these conditions are the following:

(a) The necessity for using individual structures for each projectile, itv being iinpracticable to pack them in cases withoutindividual protection;

(b) The requirement that the protecting means be sufficiently strong to stand up during the handling, etc.,.during the life ofthe projectile and until it'reaches the piece of ordnance for firing;

(lo) The low cost of 1nanufacture,since the protective means practically becomes waste material when the projectile is 'finally removed', service conditions .not permitting storage,"and 4the relative `cost ofreturning the means to'permitits re-use, beingiexcessive.

(d.) -The ability .to provide for. rapid. .handlin g, lplac'ing in positionpand removal.

The present invention is designed to .meet these various requirementsand conditionsin a man-ner to provide for ;s1`1p ,erior'service,

elimination of certain features heretofore considered necessities, and to produce the protective means in vthe form of a casing which is of 'simple form, readily manufactured, and of greatly reduced cost.

To these and other ends, 4the nature of which will 4be readih7 understood as the linvention is hereinafter disclosed, said invention consists in .the improved construction and Acombination of part-s .hereinafter vfully described, illustrated in the accompanying,r

drawings, 'andfmore particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters indicatesimilar parts in each Vof the views,-

Figure 1 is a plan view of one for-m of blank which mav'be employed in the production of my improved casing.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing one `wav in which the casing may be completed.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the .casingshown in Fig. 2. Y

The casinais formed of suitable material, a -preferred material being that commercially .known las liber, this material having the characteristics of strength and toughness, and practically impervious to water, moisture, etc. However, I have employed, with satisfactory results, a material formed by giving a cement coating to the material known as rubber cloth, the coating rendering the material free from absorption and at the same time giving more body to it, tending to stiifen the product, although this stiffnessis not equal to that possessed by the fiber material referred to.

The casing ,is preferably produced from a blank 10, -one form of which is shown in Fig. 1, the upper end being slitted to form flaps 10", 10a and 10. The blank is also slitted along one edge, as at 10d, and is provided with openings 1 0e for the passage of securing devices. Vhile the blank is shown with its `side ,edges parallel, thusproducing a casing of approximately-equal diameter throughout its major portion, it will be readily understood that where it :is desired to :slightlytaperthe casing toward its-uplperzend, the oppositefsid'e yedges ofthe blank may be .inclined toward each other to produce .thiselecn or the upper slit .10dimay have greater length, with the openingsflOc properly positioned.

" preferably The blank may be produced in any desired manner, as by shearing, through the use of dies, etc., thus enabling them to be formed uniform and. WithA great rapidity.

In completingy the casing, the blank is rolledinto tubular form, the portion of the blank between the slits 10d slightly raised, as indicated at 11, and the unslitted side edge placed over the slitted edge but under the raised portion 11, thus bringing the side openings 10e into registration. Suitable se curing devices are then passed through these openings to secure` lhe blank in its tubular form, the drawing showing these devices` in the form of rivets 12, although other forms of devices may be employed, such, for instance, as Would permit ready manipulation to enable the casing to be opened through release oi' the devices, allowing the blank to be placed in its flattened condition, thereby decreasing objection to storing and transporting the blanks when they become unserviceable for protecting purposes. I employ a cushion over the inner head of the device, as, for instance, the cloth or muslin member 13 which may be cemented to the casing over the head, thereby preventing contact of a metal structure with the surface of the projectile.

As Will be seen more particularly in Fig. 3, this particular arrangement produces a recess in the interior of the casing, Within which recess the head portions of the securing devices remain, thereby maintaining a uniform line in the length of the casing, al though the casing is formed with overlapping edges through Which securing devices extend, the thickness of the material employed being such as to prevent the forma tion of recesses or countersunk portions therein'suflicient to accommodate the head of the securing device.

The flaps 10b and 10 are then brought inward and iaps 10a brought in overlapping relation with the openings 10e therein registering, aiter which securing devices are placed through these openings, completing the casing, the flaps 10b and 10c being unsecured and simply extending beneath the bridge formed by the joined flaps 10a, as indicated in Fig. 3.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 3, the shape of flaps l0a is such that when the remaining flaps are in position, the side edges overhang in such manner as will permit o'l being readily gripped to enable the casing to be Withdrawn.

The easing is preferably provided with indentations 15, preferably produced While in blank form, these indentations tending to more firmly retain the casing in position on the shell. As these indentations have no sharp edges and are of non-metallic material, they will not damage-,the surface of the projectile.`

vtion as expressed As Will be readily understood, the con-- struction herein disclosed is not only one of simplicity, but is such as can be manufactured at small cost and a minimum amount of labor. It protects the surface of the projectile and at the same time permits rapid handling Without exposing the surface to damage by abrasion. l If desired, a fabric may be employed beneath the casing to further decrease such liability, although such use is not essential; or a cementcoated rubber-'cloth cap may be employed beneath the casing to insure against corrosion and rust elects. lVhere the casing is made from liber, its stilness will permit close assembling of projectiles in packing', thus enabling the use of simple boxes instead of cellular boxes.

Other advantages will be readily perceived, and While I have shown a preferred form in Whichthe invention may be carried out, it is obvious that changes and modifications may be required or desired to meet the exigencies oi' use, and I reserve the right to make such changes and modifications for such purpose, in so far as the same may. fall Within the spirit and scope of the invenin the accompanying claims.

Ii desired, `the casing may be provided With means which extend across the lower end for preventing endwise movement on the projectile under extreme handling conditions. Such means are obvious, as for instance a cord extending from-one sido to the other, this being an obvious'expedient for the purpose.` Under ordinary conditions, such means is not necessary, the substantial fit of the casing and the presence of the indentations serving to retain the casing in position.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new is:

1. A protecting casing for ammunition comprising a blank having its sideredges joined to form a tube-like member, each side edge having both an overlapping and an overlapped relation to the opposite side edge within the length of the joint, said blank having means extending over a joint` end and adapted to act as a when in protecting position.

Q. A. protecting casing for .ammunition comprising a blank having its 4side edges joined to form a tube-like member, each side edge having overlapped relation to the opposite side'edgi` Within the length of the joint, said overlapping arrangement providing an interior recess on the joint line, said blank having means extending over a joint end and adapted to actas a support therefor when in pro tecting position; l

3. A protecting casing" i'or ammrmition comprising a L blank having its side edgessllPpOrt 'therefor both an overlapping and an joined to form a tube-like member, each side edge having both an overlapping and an overlapped relation to the opposite lside edge within the length of the joint, said overlapping arrangement providing an interior recess on the joint line, and securing means extending through said edges within the recess area, said blank having means extending over a joint end and adapted to act as a support therefor when in protecting position.

'-L. A Aprotecting casing for ammunition comprising a blank having its side edges joined to form a tube-like member, eaclibsidc edge having both an overlapping and an overlapped relation to the opposite side edge within the length of the joint, said overlapping arrangement providing an interior recess on the joint line, securing means extending through said edges within the recess area, and means within the recess for pre-venting contact between the securing means and the projectile.

5. A protecting casing for ammunition 4comprising a blank having its side edges joined to form a tube-like member, one of said edges extending in substantially a single plane within the joint, the opposite edge extending on parallel planes, whereby an interior recess will be formed in the direction of length of the joint, and securing means extending through the joint within the recess area, saidv blank having means extending over a joint end and adapted to act as a support therefor when in protecting position.

6. A protecting casing for ammunition comprising a blank having one of its side edges slitted inwardly, the opposite side edge extending into the slits to permit securing the edges together to form a tubelike structure, the edges being in overlapping relation, the portion of the slitted edge between the slits overlapping the unslitted edge to form an interior recess in the direction of length of the slitted edge, said blank having means extending over a joint end and adapted to act as a support therefor when in protecting position.

7. A protecting casing for ammunition comprising a blank having its side edges joined together to form a tube-like structure, said blank having one end slitted to form flaps, the slits being of a length to permit joining of opposing aps at the end oi the structure to form an extended space between the joint and the unslitted portion of the member, said space being adapted to loosely receive the remaining flaps, said side edges having an end extending beneath the joint.

8. A protecting casing for ammunition comprising a blank having its Side edges joined to -orm a tube-like structure-. said blank having one end slitted to form flapsn the slits being of a, .length to permit joining of opposing flaps at the end of the structure to form an extended space between the Hap joint and the unslitted portion of the structure, said space being adapted to loosely receiv'e the remaining fiaps, said joined flaps having a width to extend over the loose flaps and form gripping edges to permit manipulation of the casing on the projectile, said side'edges having an end extending beneath 'the joint.

' 9. A protecting casing for ammunition comprising a blank'having one side edge and one end edge slitted inwardly, said slitted side edge being adapted to coperate with the opposite side edge to form a tube like structure when the edges are in overlapping relation with the slitted edge extending on parallel planes, thereby forming an interior recess within the direction of length of the slitted edge, said slitted end forming liaps at the end of the structure, two of said flaps being adapted to be joined together to form a space to receive the remaining iiaps, and securing means for joining the side edges and said pair of flaps in joint relation.

10. A protecting casing for ammunition comprising a tubular structure formed from a blank and having an overlapping joint extending longitudinally of the structure, said structure having an open end and having its opposite end closed by a plurality of flaps, two of said flaps overlapping and being connected together to form a space therebelow to loosely receive the remaining flaps, said flaps acting as a support for the structure and to limit the positioning movements thereof, the joint extending into and forming part of the underlying flapformation. 11. A protecting casing for ammunition comprising a tubular structure formed from a blank and having an overlapping joint extending longitudinally of the, structure, said structure having an open end and having its opposite end closed by a plurality of iiaps, two of said flaps overlapping and being connected together to form a space therebelow to loosely receive the remaining aps,

said latter ilaps extending at approximately right angles to the direction of length of the secured flaps, said flaps acting as a support for the structure and to limit the positioning movements thereof, the joint extending into and forming part of the underlying Hap formation. '-H'v- 12. A protecting casing for ammunition comprising a tubular structure formed from a blank and having an overlapping joint extending longitudinally of the structure, said structure having an open end and having its opposite end closed by a plurality of flaps extending in opposed directions and curved in their directions ot' length, two of said flaps being connected together to form a space therebelow to loosely receive the remaining flaps, said flaps acting as a support for the structure and to limit the positioning movement thereof, the joint extending into and 'forming part of the underlying Hap formation.

13. A protecting casing for ammunition comprising a single blank of commercial ber having its side edges joined together to form a tube-like structure, and also having one end lsubstantially closed with the closure having opposed recesses permanently open. to provide a gripping member adapted to permit manipulation of the casing relative t0 the projectile, said joined side edges extending into the closure configuration and underlying said member. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JULIUS SCHIERA.

Witnesses:

S. A. MCFARLAND, HORACE E. SEiTz.

Copies ofV this patent may' be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the. Commissioner ot Patents, Washington, D. C. 

